Amir Arison

Amir Arison (born March 24, 1978) is an American actor, best known for his work as FBI tech expert Aram Mojtabai on NBC’s The Blacklist for nine seasons.
Early life and education
Arison was born in Saint Louis, MO to father Ron Arison, a surgeon, and mother Zipora Arison, a psychiatrist. He has one older sibling.
Amir grew up in Fort Lauderdale from the age of 5, where he attended Pine Crest School from kindergarten through his senior year in high school. With an early penchant for theatre, Arison received the school's Drama Club Award in the 6th grade, as well as the Founder’s Council Fine Arts Award in Acting his Senior year. Amir performed with the Fort Lauderdale-based professional improv group ComedySportz throughout his junior and senior years.
He received his SAG card, debuting in a Sonic Drive-In commercial when he was 16.
He attended Columbia University, where he earned a BA in English.
Amir is the recipient of the 2022 NY SJFF Pomegranate Award for Achievement in Acting.
Television
In addition to his role as Aram Mojtabai on NBC’s The Blacklist, Arison’s television credits include recurring & guest starring roles on the Hulu Limited Miniseries The Dropout, American Horror Story, Hulu's Ramy, Law & Order: SVU, Showtime's Billions, and Bull on CBS, NCIS, Homeland, Girls, Blue, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Warner Brothers' H+.
He is the Emmy winning host of NBC's 2023 Clear the Shelters Campaign, helping 161,000 rescue pets nationwide get adopted.
Theatre
Arison has performed all over the world on stage. In 2022 he starred in 'The Kite Runner' on Broadway: "A Chameleon Flies from The Blacklist to The Kite Runner".
Charles Isherwood wrote of his performance.
“With the help of a superlative cast, led by Amir Arison, playing the central role of a character also named Amir, and lucid direction by Giles Croft, the Broadway production brings the largely gripping narrative to life…”
“Mr. Arison’s engaging presence generates momentum, and he brings searching feeling to both the insecure boy and the confident man he becomes.”
“By differentiating the accents he uses—an American one for the narrator and the adult Amir, and an Afghan-inflected one for the younger character—Mr. Arison easily keeps us aware of which Amir we are watching”.
NY Theater highlights, Off-Broadway[6]: HAMLET (Waterwell) THE MUSCLES IN OUR TOES (Labyrinth), AFTERMATH (NYTW, Drama League Nominee), Christopher Durang's WHY TORTURE IS WRONG AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM (The Public Theatre), Charles Mee's QUEENS BOULEVARD (Signature), A VERY COMMON PROCEDURE (MCC), MODERN ORTHODOX, OMNIUM GATHERUM (Pulitzer Finalist), CANDY & DOROTHY, A FIRST CLASS MAN, and countless workshops. International theatrical highlights: LOVE’S LABOR’S LOST (RSC's Complete Works Festival). Regional credits include: The Shakespeare Theatre, The Huntington, Yale Repertory, Paper Mill, Long Wharf, The Lyric, Shakespeare Theatre of St. Louis, Olney Theatre Center, and The Dorset Theatre Festival.
Film
Arison’s film highlights include: 20 Weeks, Jane Wants a Boyfriend, Big Words, Tom McCarthy’s The Visitor, Amy Heckerling's Vamps, Nia Vardalos' I Hate Valentine's Day, and Merry Friggin' Christmas.
Directing and Producing
Arison produced and directed the award-winning short film, Fortress written by Anna Ziegler, as well as Tati’s Fashion Show for Angelight Films. He has directed numerous theatre projects in NYC & Los Angeles for IAMA Theater Company, Circle X, Mind the Gap, & New York Women and Film.
Currently Amir is Directing & Producing a feature documentary about an 8 year old’s imagination and creative process while undergoing treatment for a medulloblastoma brain tumor.
Nonprofit Work and Teaching
Arison is the recipient of the Mendez Award from the 2018 Maryland International Film Festival given to an individual who uses their platform in the entertainment industry to raise awareness in the non-profit world, with Amir’s focus specifically in arts access and education, mental health awareness, and animal rescue.[11] He currently teaches workshops and directs/performs for multiple organizations including YoungArts[, United Arts Partnership, NBC director’s diversity showcase, Broadway for All, Broadway Workshop, Bridge Builders, Hole-in-the-wall-gang-camp, Angelight Films, among others. Most recently, Amir has launched a conversation series, "Positive Peeps" about the power of giving and creating with unique individuals who have made a positive impact in their community and whose voice is not always heard.
References
External links
Broadway Bio
Living people
1978 births
American male film actors
American male television actors
Male actors from St. Louis
21st-century American male actors
American people of Israeli descent
Jewish American male actors
Columbia College (New York) alumni
21st-century American Jews
Pine Crest School alumni
American Ashkenazi Jews
Israeli people of Ashkenazi descent
Theatre World Award winners